The National
Abu Dhabi English-language daily owned by International Media Investments
The National is an English-language daily newspaper published in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It was first published on 17 April 2008 by Abu Dhabi Media, a government-owned company. In 2016 it was sold to International Media Investments (IMI), which relaunched it in 2017; it has bureaux in Beirut, Cairo, London and Washington.Sources:1Wikipedia: The National (Abu Dhabi), Wikipedia (source, opens in a new tab)2The National: About us, The National (source, opens in a new tab)3Gulf News: International Media Investments acquires The National, Gulf News (source, opens in a new tab)
IMI is a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Media Investment Corporation, an investment vehicle owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE's Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister. The Financial Times has described the paper as "seen as a mouthpiece for Abu Dhabi's worldview"; its editor, Mina Al-Oraibi, has called that label "frustrating" and said there has been "no intervention whatsoever" from the owners in her editorship. The State Media Monitor classes IMI's outlets as "Captured Public/State-Managed", noting that no formal government editorial directives are publicly documented.Sources:1Wikipedia: The National (Abu Dhabi), Wikipedia (source, opens in a new tab)4Press Gazette: The National UAE editor interview: Mina Al-Oraibi, Press Gazette, 29 April 2024 (source, opens in a new tab)5State Media Monitor: International Media Investments (IMI), State Media Monitor (source, opens in a new tab)
Who it favours
We have not analysed The National's coverage yet. When we do, this shows which side its articles favoured, story by story.
Who controls it
Whoever owns an outlet, provides most of its money or directs it controls it. Our rule.
- ReportedControlled by UAE Vice President Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan (owner) · Controlled by a politician (owner, funder or director) Sources:1Wikipedia: The National (Abu Dhabi), Wikipedia (source, opens in a new tab)4Press Gazette: The National UAE editor interview: Mina Al-Oraibi, Press Gazette, 29 April 2024 (source, opens in a new tab)5State Media Monitor: International Media Investments (IMI), State Media Monitor (source, opens in a new tab)
- ReportedSeen as reflecting Abu Dhabi's line (Financial Times); editor disputes it · Stance described by a reliable source or study Sources:1Wikipedia: The National (Abu Dhabi), Wikipedia (source, opens in a new tab)4Press Gazette: The National UAE editor interview: Mina Al-Oraibi, Press Gazette, 29 April 2024 (source, opens in a new tab)
- ReportedClassed "captured public/state-managed" by State Media Monitor · Stance described by a reliable source or study Sources:5State Media Monitor: International Media Investments (IMI), State Media Monitor (source, opens in a new tab)
Owners, funders and directors
- OwnerInternational Media InvestmentsOwner since 2016, when it bought the paper from state-owned Abu Dhabi Media Sources:1Wikipedia: The National (Abu Dhabi), Wikipedia (source, opens in a new tab)2The National: About us, The National (source, opens in a new tab)3Gulf News: International Media Investments acquires The National, Gulf News (source, opens in a new tab)
- OwnerAbu Dhabi Media Investment CorporationParent of International Media Investments Sources:1Wikipedia: The National (Abu Dhabi), Wikipedia (source, opens in a new tab)5State Media Monitor: International Media Investments (IMI), State Media Monitor (source, opens in a new tab)
- OwnerMansour bin Zayed Al NahyanOwns Abu Dhabi Media Investment Corporation; Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE Sources:1Wikipedia: The National (Abu Dhabi), Wikipedia (source, opens in a new tab)4Press Gazette: The National UAE editor interview: Mina Al-Oraibi, Press Gazette, 29 April 2024 (source, opens in a new tab)5State Media Monitor: International Media Investments (IMI), State Media Monitor (source, opens in a new tab)
- Government of the United Arab Emirates: Vice President Sources:Wikipedia: Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Wikipedia (source, opens in a new tab)
- Government of the United Arab Emirates: Deputy Prime Minister Sources:Wikipedia: Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Wikipedia (source, opens in a new tab)
- Government of the United Arab Emirates: Minister of Presidential Affairs Sources:Wikipedia: Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Wikipedia (source, opens in a new tab)
- DirectorMina Al-OraibiEditor-in-chief Sources:1Wikipedia: The National (Abu Dhabi), Wikipedia (source, opens in a new tab)4Press Gazette: The National UAE editor interview: Mina Al-Oraibi, Press Gazette, 29 April 2024 (source, opens in a new tab)
As documented, nearest first. Each note says what the source supports.
- Ownership disclosed on its site
- Published corrections policy
- Funding disclosed
- Sources:2The National: About us, The National (source, opens in a new tab)
Political links
Documented links between the outlet or its owners and parties or politicians. Only "Confirmed" is established.
- ReportedOwner of the parent company; UAE Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Sources:1Wikipedia: The National (Abu Dhabi), Wikipedia (source, opens in a new tab)4Press Gazette: The National UAE editor interview: Mina Al-Oraibi, Press Gazette, 29 April 2024 (source, opens in a new tab)
How we use it
1 story cites The National directly.
October 2026
- Oil tops $110 after Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia's Shaybah field and Dammam airportBrent crude rose to its highest since May after a deadly drone strike near Saudi Aramco's Shaybah oilfield and an attack on Dammam's airport, on top of the Iran-war risk at Hormuz.
Outside left–right raters
For comparison only. Western raters place outlets on a left–right line, which says nothing about whom they favour in a given story or who funds them; our own tally is above.
Media Bias/Fact Check: Right-Center (checked 24 Oct 2026)
Sources
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